Someone in the Nike public relations department had to have seen all of the backlash the company was getting for not promoting Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark one time during the 2024 WNBA season. That backlash intensified after Clark was named WNBA Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press and reached a fever pitch right before the league named Clark the official Rookie of the Year winner days later.

After penning an eight-figure deal with sportswear giants, WNBA rookie superstar Caitlin Clark has had minimal involvement with the firm - prompting backlash from her army of fans

By contrast to the delay with Clark's shoe, Lebron James wore his signature Nike sneaker in his first NBA game in 2003 and had a TV commercial to go with it. Michael Jordan, meanwhile, donned his debut signature shoe just a few weeks into his rookie season in 1984.